The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), in collaboration with South Carolina Department of Children's Advocacy and the South Carolina Program for Infant/Toddler Care (SCPITC), are urging parents and caregivers to follow safe sleep recommendations for infants.
The reminders come as October marks both Safe Sleep Awareness Month and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month.
The most recent South Carolina Infant Mortality Report from 2022 shows accidents as the third-leading cause of death among infants, most of which were related to unsafe sleep.
“One hundred percent of unsafe sleep deaths are preventable,” said Jessica Sharp, director of SCPITC. “Using safe sleep practices every time a baby goes to sleep will save lives.”
According to the report, accidents had the largest increase at 46%. Of the 36 deaths due to accidents, 29 were caused by accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed.
SIDS was the fourth-leading cause of infant deaths in 2022—an increase of nearly 38% from 2021 to 2022. The risk of SIDS can be reduced by having a smoke-free home, getting prenatal care as soon as possible, breastfeeding and following safe sleep rules every time the baby sleeps.
All caregivers are encouraged to learn safe sleep practices like the ABCs of Safe Sleep: Let your baby sleep Alone on their Back in their Crib. Cribs should always be clear of any items such as pillows, blankets, bumpers, toys and stuffed animals to keep baby safe for naps and at night.
To learn more and find additional resources, visit DPH’s Safe Sleep, Every Sleep webpage or the Safe to Sleep campaign’s Ways to Reduce Baby's Risk.